The chocolate industry must embrace climate-smart agriculture to mitigate the shattering effects of rising temperatures on millions of cocoa farmers in the developing world, says Rainforest Alliance.
The International Cocoa Initiative (ICI) says it will not alter its approach to tackling cocoa child labor after a sharp rise in the worst forms of child labor, and is optimistic a $4.5m US government grant and industry commitments will contribute to...
Rebaudioside M is safe and can be added to the list of EU-approved steviol glycosides (E960), the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has concluded. The agency said this was the case provided 95% of its components were converted to steviol.
Industry consultant Curtis Vreeland considers the recipes for success in the US bean-to-bar chocolate market with analysis from craft chocolatiers such as TCHO and Dandelion Chocolate.
Moderate chocolate consumption may help expectant mothers and their fetuses by reducing stress and providing antioxidants that guard against reproductive diseases and pregnancy complications, say Italian researchers.
Cocoa farmers operate in a chocolate supply chain that perpetuates poverty and bear the bulk of the risk, claims Cacao for Change as it proposes an alternative model.
Chocolate makers can draw on coffee industry grading standards to develop a common quality system for cocoa, says Lutheran World Relief’s manager of coffee and cocoa.
High-flavanol cocoa supplementation may have positive impacts on facial wrinkles and skin elasticity in photo-aged Korean women, says a new study from scientists from Seoul National University.
Barry Callebaut has found previously undiscovered cocoa polyphenols as it works with Bremen-based Jacobs University to crack the commodity’s molecular code.
Low energy sweeteners commonly used in diet sodas may help with weight loss, says a University of Bristol study, adding that confusion among consumers between sweeteners and sugar needs to be addressed.
US confectioners should ready themselves to declare percentage daily values for added sugars set at 10% of total calorie intake, which could be a regulatory requirement by 2018, says a consultant for the Sweetener Users Association.
While many people have snacks, sugar and sodas pinned as the bad guys in the war against obesity, one recent study found little to no correlation between consumption of junk food and obesity.
Mondelēz International has scaled up its cocoa sustainability program through a partnership with its major supplier Barry Callebaut and has set a long-term goal of professionalizing the cocoa sector.
Cargill Cocoa & Chocolate has launched an initiative for cocoa cooperatives in Côte d’Ivoire to acquire new trucks through loans that it claims will help farmers to overcome logistical problems.
A sugar tax could cut sugary drink purchases and help fight obesity, according to Public Health England (PHE), amid controversy over the government shelving the health agency’s report into the issue.
Chocolate makers must pay double the market price for cocoa farmers to receive a living income, says the CEO of Fairtrade as the organization gears up to review pricing.
Nestlé's confectionery business posted 7.8% organic growth for the first nine months, but one analyst says the firm is over-reliant on KitKat and is performing below market rivals.
Consumer trends are actively changing how food items are packaged, according to a report released at this year’s Pack Expo Las Vegas and Pharma Expo 2015.
The recent finalization of the Trans Pacific Partnership is good news for confectioners and sugar-using manufacturers across the US, according to Rick Pasco, president of Sweetener Users Association (SUA).
The world’s largest fine flavor cocoa plantation Hacienda Victoria says big industry players such as Lindt and Barry Callebaut are showing strong interest in sourcing single estate fine flavor cocoa from Ecuador.
Consumers end up eating for much longer stretches of the day than they had anticipated with over half of adults eating over a 15-hour span daily, says new research.
Three class action lawsuits brought in California allege Mars, Nestlé and Hershey use child labor to produce their best-selling chocolate brands. The firms say they are tackling the issue and will fight the cases.
Lindt & Sprungli has been cleared by a German court to keep producing its golden chocolate teddy bear, otherwise known as Goldbären, following an almost three-year spat with Haribo.
Fourteen genomes of Colombian Fino de Aroma cocoa have been discovered and analyzed in research that could lead to unique flavors for the chocolate market.
‘You can’t say you’re sustainable when you’re not reaching the majority,’ says cocoa farmer body
The International Cocoa Farmers Organization has called on the chocolate industry to directly source from cocoa farmers and support efforts to reach 90% of farmers it says have been neglected in cocoa sustainability plans.
Mondelēz International hopes to “significantly expand margins” through healthier versions of its products, product innovation and more reliance on digital media.
Cocoa flavanols have been tied to lowering blood pressure and heart disease risk in new research by a Mars-backed project, but study authors say chocolate is too calorific to be a delivery vehicle.
Arla Foods Ingredients is showcasing a new high-protein ingredient for cake mixes that the company hopes can take advantage of the 'snackification' trend.
The first commercial 3D printer for retail will be used to create gummies in different shapes, sizes, colors and flavors, says creator Katjes Fassin UK.
Sunbelt Bakery has launched a protein-based bar without preservatives and containing 6 g of protein that it hopes will compete with the likes of General Mills' Nature Valley protein bar offering and Kellogg's Special K bars.
Perilous working conditions for sugarcane growers in Central America have claimed around 20,000 lives in the past decade and supply chain advisor Solidaridad says the food and drink industry can no longer ignore the epidemic.
Nestlé confectionery sales dipped $300m in H1, so if it wants to stay at the top it must continue to invest in brands like KitKat rather than focus too heavily too soon on health and wellness, Euromonitor says.
Singapore-based Olam’s $1.3bn acquisition of Archer Daniels Midland’s global cocoa business has hit a bump in the road, according to U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission filings.
The National Confectioners Association (NCA) is pushing for Australia to be allowed to export more sugar to the US under the Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP) as it decries plans to maintain current US sugar rules.
The cocoa and chocolate industry acknowledges it must do more to combat cocoa child labor after the number of kids working in hazardous conditions on cocoa farms in Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire rises 18%, a report from Tulane University shows.
